Pakistan batsman Saud Shakeel: “These shots (ramps etc), I don’t practice them a lot and they come natural to me”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan batsman Saud Shakeel said unorthodox shots like the ramp come naturally to him as he doesn’t practice them a lot in the nets.
Shakeel’s comments come after he showcased his credentials as a T20 player while representing the Quetta Gladiators in the 2024 Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Playing as an opener instead of in the middle order, where he is more accustomed to batting, the 28-year-old went on a scoring rampage, amassing 323 runs in 10 matches, which included two fifties, at an average of 35.88 and a strike-rate of 141.66.
“These shots (ramps etc), I don’t practice them a lot and they come natural to me. I think it is about expressing yourself, maybe I got a bit late in exploring these things and everyone thought that I would be [a] Test player only. So I think a player should continue to explore himself and try some new things,” Shakeel told Cricwick.
The Gladiators managed to reach the playoffs, but had their campaign ended after losing to Islamabad United in Eliminator 1.
Pakistan’s next assignment will be a five-match T20I series against New Zealand, which will be played in Rawalpindi and Lahore from April 18 to 27.
Pakistan Squad for New Zealand T20I Series: Babar Azam (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Amir, Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usama Mir, Usman Khan, Zaman Khan
Non-travelling reserves: Haseebullah Khan, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha